January marks the official arrival of visitors and snowbirds from the North to Florida. And what a pleasure it is to be in the Sunshine State during this month, when you can enjoy outdoor festivals, fairs, and festivities thanks to the state’s subtropical climate!
After the Las Olas Art Fair Part I on Las Olas Blvd in Fort Lauderdale, which drew tens of thousands of people on January 3 and 4 and took place on the same weekend as the Sunday Jazz Brunch on the first Sunday of every month along Fort Lauderdale’s scenic Riverwalk, other festivities, each more appealing than the last, await you.
Perlberg Festival of New Plays
From January 9 to 11, five new, never-before-produced plays will be read at this festival organized by Palm Beach Dramaworks (201 Clematis St.) in downtown West Palm Beach. Each play reading will be followed by a post-performance discussion. Cost: $35 per performance. Please note that the playwrights’ roundtable discussion on January 11 is free, but you must register online.
www.palmbeachdramaworks.org
Taste of Dania Beach
At this event on Saturday, January 10, at City Hall Plaza (100 W. Dania Beach Blvd, Dania Beach) from 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m., there will be food trucks, a cooking workshop for little chefs, games, contests, face painters, concerts by the Adam Uhlan Band and Life in Technicolor, and much more! Plus, with the purchase of a “Tasting Experience” wristband ($40), you’ll also have access to local food vendors. Free shuttles will run to and from the Dania Beach Casino from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. General admission and parking are free, and VIP admission is $60.
www.tasteofdaniabeach.com
Mach 1 — Salute to Service Air Show
This inaugural event was scheduled for November 11, 2025, on Veterans Day, at Charlie & Joe’s on the Love Street waterfront in Jupiter, but was postponed due to the U.S. government shutdown last fall, with the intention of rescheduling it for a new date.
The Air Show, which aims to honor veterans with aerial displays, live music, and festivities, with a portion of the proceeds going to veterans’ support foundations, will take place on January 11 from noon to 5 p.m. Watch the air show along the banks of the Loxahatchee River, near the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse. www.saddleandseafoundation.org or www.lovestreetjupiter.com
Artisans Of Wine & Food
Held at the Boca Raton Club & Resort (501 E. Camino Real, Boca Raton) from January 15 to 18, this will be the second edition of this gastronomic event at the sumptuous resort, which will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2026 and has partnered with the expert oenologists of Napa Valley Vintners of California.
Renowned chefs will be on hand to add their gastronomic touch: Jet Tila, Mario Carbone, Taek Lee, Alex Espinoza, Guy Savoy, and Massimo Falsini, alongside big names from the world of wine. The president and CEO of the Boca Raton Club & Resort told the Sun Sentinel: “We’re bringing Napa Valley’s finest vintners and world-class chefs together for a weekend that celebrates craft and community. After last year’s incredible response, we’re raising the bar in every way, offering guests an even more immersive experience. Unlike other food and wine weekends, here it’s the vintners, winemakers and owners that our members and guests have the opportunity to engage with.” The cost? À la carte tickets range from $150 to $778.24, and weekend passes are $2,848.24.
On January 17, proceeds from the auction at A Vintners Gala: Carbone at Artisans of Wine & Food will go to Place of Hope in Palm Beach County and the Napa Valley Vintners Youth Wellness Initiative. www.artisansofwineandfood.com
South Florida Strawberry Festival
From 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on January 17 and 18, and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on January 19 (Martin Luther King Jr. Day), this annual festival returns with strawberry treats. On the program: kiosks, Berry Big Bite contest, Berry Bonanza Adventure maze, Strawberry Shortcake inflatable house, Strawberry Playland, Strawberry Soft playground (for toddlers), Pop-Up Shopping Village, golf simulator, racing and derby games, petting zoo, America’s Got Talent Stunt Dog Show, and much more! See you at Burt Aaronson South County Regional Park (11500 Yamato Road, Boca Raton). Cost: $22.32 for general admission and $41.52 for admission and a wristband giving unlimited access to rides and inflatable structures.
www.soflostrawberryfestival.com
Donald M. Ephraim Sun & Stars International Film Festival
This film festival, running from January 25 to February 6 in Palm Beach County, is now in its fourth year. It offers a wide range of films, such as the opening gala featuring the coming-of-age comedy Ethan Bloom, set in Miami, and the closing documentary about fashion and shoe designer Kenneth Cole, entitled « A Man with Sole: The Impact of Kenneth Cole ».
Don’t miss it at the following locations: Rinker Playhouse at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, 701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach; Hooky Entertainment at Delray Marketplace, 14775 Lyons Road, Delray Beach; Glazer Hall at Royal Poinciana Plaza, 70 Royal Poinciana Way, Suite P70, Palm Beach. www.sasiff.org
Wellington’s Taste & Toast
This outdoor culinary event returns for a second year to the Mall at Wellington Green, where those 21 and older can enjoy gourmet bites from local chefs and sample premium cocktails, wines, and spirits, all hosted by DJ Roberto. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County. The event will be held on Friday, January 30, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., and general admission tickets cost $100, while VIP access costs $175.
West Coast
Sarasota Winter Seafood & Music Festival: January 2-4, an event in Sarasota where you can enjoy fresh seafood and listen to live music.
Fort Myers Seafood & Music Festival: January 30 to February 1, a similar event to sample fresh seafood, listen to bands (R&B, jazz, reggae), and stroll through a waterfront craft market in historic downtown Fort Myers. www.paragonfestivals.com
East Coast
Port St. Lucie Seafood Festival (Port St. Lucie, January 24 and 25, 2026): Fresh seafood, live music, arts and crafts. www.portsaintlucieseafoodfestival.com
